Forbes: Astros one of three teams to drop in value

Forbes Magazine has released its annual list of the MLB's most valuable franchise. Who's No. 1? If you guessed anyone other than the New York Yankees, then you haven't been paying attention. Here's how the full 30-team league looks.Source: Forbes' The Business of Baseball less

Forbes Magazine has released its annual list of the MLB's most valuable franchise. Who's No. 1? If you guessed anyone other than the New York Yankees, then you haven't been paying attention. Here's how the ... more

The Astros have dropped in value since Jim Crane’s purchase of the team in 2011, according to Forbes. (Houston Chronicle)

Forbes puts the Astros value at $530 million with a revenue of $186 million in 2013 and an operating income of $55.9 million. The other two franchises to drop in value were the Mets and Marlins.

The culprit for the Astros’ drop was a familiar one — troubles with Comcast Sports Net Houston, which paid the Astros only $29 million of the $56 million due in rights fees.

Here’s how Forbes says it calculates its numbers:

Forbes team values are enterprise values (debt plus equity) and include completed television deals that begin in the future, but exclude the equity interests in other assets the team may own, such as regional sports networks or concession businesses. Revenues and operating income figures include all revenue and expenses for each team and its stadium where applicable.

Now that the Astros are being called poor, and coming the day after the Associated Press reported the team had the lowest payroll in the majors it will be interesting to see if this report draws the same ire. Crane bought the Astros from Drayton McLane in 2011 for $610 million (the original price was $680 million but he got a $70 million break for moving the team to the American League).

But Astros fans would settle for more emphasis on the bottom line that matters to them: wins and losses.